minority

[ mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi- ]

/ maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr, mɪ- /

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See synonyms for: minority / minorities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mi·nor·i·ties.

the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.

a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action.

a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority:The ethnic minority was disproportionately affected by the reduction in preventative medical services.

a racial, ethnic, religious, or social subdivision of a society that is subordinated in political, financial, or social power by the dominant group, without regard to the size of these groups: legislation aimed at providing equal rights for minorities.

a member of such a group.

the state or period of being under the legal age of full responsibility.

adjective

of or relating to a minority.

OTHER WORDS FOR minority

6 childhood, boyhood, girlhood.

See synonyms for minority on Thesaurus.com

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Compare majority-minority.

Origin of minority

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English, from Middle French minorité, from Medieval Latin minōritāt-, stem of minōritās; see minor, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM minority

non·mi·nor·i·ty, adjectivepro·mi·nor·i·ty, adjective

Words nearby minority

minor canon, minor coin, minor element, Minorite, minoritize, minority, minority carrier, minority group, minority leader, minor key, minor league

How to use minority in a sentence

The hope is Garrison can help Austin improve these and other issues, as the Pentagon needs to lift qualified minorities to more positions of power and keep extremists out of uniform.
The Pentagon is taking a major step to deal with its diversity problems|Alex Ward|February 12, 2021|Vox
The minority of Republicans who think otherwise might survive the next round of primaries, but they show no ability to move the 88 to 95 percent of the party out.
Stop trying to save the GOP. It’s hopeless.|Jennifer Rubin|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
While I think that is not wrong, I also think that the line for a small minority of the GOP has gotten brighter.
How Has The Nation Changed Since The Insurrection At The Capitol?|Micah Cohen (micah.cohen@fivethirtyeight.com)|February 11, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Although it is still too early to know whether these steps will improve lives in minority communities, they represent one effort to tackle a long-standing problem around the globe.
The problem of environmental racism in Mexico today is rooted in history|Jayson Porter|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

This means that far fewer older adults from under-resourced racial and ethnic minority communities have been able to make appointments.
One big hiccup in US efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines? Poor internet access.|By Tamra Burns Loeb, Et Al./The Conversation|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
Latinos, the fastest growing minority group in America, are even more underrepresented in Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For my friend, a small minority of JSwipe matches materialized into conversations, and none have materialized into dates.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The two major complaints minority communities have against the police seem at first glance paradoxical.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Veterans are a small minority of the population, as well, serving the greater whole.
A Veteran’s View: NYC Cold War Between Cops and City Hall|Matt Gallagher|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There, many minority parents supported Tom Torklarson, who favored the education reform agenda.
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the majority pulled in one way there was an active minority that wished the Nana to set up an independent kingdom.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Though that party may be a minority of the faithful few, the members are enough to continue the organization.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
In regard to this question of economic condition the Minority Report took a more modest view.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The Americans had some great British leaders on their side, but they were definitely in the minority.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
But the members who were disposed to let him have even half as many troops as he thought necessary were a minority.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for minority

minority

/ (maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ, mɪ-) /

noun plural -ties

the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups

a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of which it is a part

the state of being a minor
the period during which a person is below legal ageCompare majority

(modifier) relating to or being a minoritya minority interest; a minority opinion

Word Origin for minority

C16: from Medieval Latin minōritās, from Latin minor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

minority

OTHER WORDS FOR minority

Origin of minority

OTHER WORDS FROM minority

Words nearby minority

Words related to minority

How to use minority in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for minority

Word Origin for minority